Government defends entry of 'hate preacher'

In response to Opposition questions about why a controversial British Islamic cleric Taji Mustafa was allowed into Australia, Immigration Minister Chris Bowen said all proper processes were followed and the organisation that invited Mr Mustafa is not proscribed in Australia.

Transcript

EMMA ALBERICI, PRESENTER: The Federal Government has defended its decision to grant a visa to a controversial British Islamic figure labelled a hate preacher by the Opposition.

Taji Mustafa has now left the country, but not before making fiery speeches at a conservative Islamic gathering.

But the Immigration Minister says he broke no laws before being allowed into the country and proper processes were followed.

Political correspondent Tom Iggulden has more from Canberra.

TOM IGGULDEN, REPORTER: Taji Mustafa spoke on the eve of the weekend protests.

TOM IGGULDEN: There's no evidence of a direct link between the Hizb ut-Tahrir organisation which hosted his visit and Saturday's violence, but Mr Mustafa admits he sympathises with those who protested.

TAJI MUSTAFA: Many Muslims feel under attack - not physically on the streets of Melbourne or Canberra, but when they look to their brothers and sisters in Iraq, they see physical occupation. And eight women were killed by NATO troops in the last few days. Who spoke up for them?

TOM IGGULDEN: While he says protestors’ anger was understandable, he adds he's concerned about the violence some turned to.

TAJI MUSTAFA: Well, we would like to promote peaceful political protest. So I think the original intention is not for any of these protests anywhere in the world to turn violent.

TOM IGGULDEN: But the Opposition had heard enough before Mr Mustafa had even arrived in the country.

SPEAKER: Are there any questions without notice?

TOM IGGULDEN: And with community tensions still running hot following the weekend melee, raised the issue with the Immigration Minister.

JULIA BISHOP, DEPUTY OPPOSITION LEADER: Will the minister explain why the Government allows preachers of hate into our country?

CHRIS BOWEN, IMMIGRATION MINISTER: This entry permit was issued in accordance with the normal procedures for British nationals. This individual was not on the movement alert list because he is not speaking at an organisation that is prescribed in Australia.

TOM IGGULDEN: But the Opposition says Mr Bowen had the power to trump the normal processes and deny Mr Mustafa entry anyway.

SCOTT MORRISON, OPPOSITION IMMIGRATION SPOKESMAN: Putting his hand in the same old book of excuses, pulling out the one he always pulls out and says, "Oh, look, my hands are tied. I can't do anything. There's no conviction." The truth is this minister is a soft touch on the character test and everybody knows it.

TOM IGGULDEN: The Opposition first raised Mr Mustafa with the Government last week via a letter with no advance knowledge of Saturday's violence.

The Attorney-General was also in the firing line today.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE, MANAGER OF OPPOSITION BUSINESS: Did she have foreknowledge and security advice in relation to the visit of Taji Mustafa?

TOM IGGULDEN: Nicola Roxon reminded the Opposition of the case of Mohamed Haneef who was jailed without charge for almost two weeks and had his visa wrongly cancelled after a distant cousin was involved in a British terrorist attack. He successfully sued in 2010 and the current government's not keen for another messy court case.

NICOLA ROXON, ATTORNEY-GENERAL: And we've spent plenty of time doing that for decisions taken by those opposite and we don't intend to do that again.

TOM IGGULDEN: The Opposition's looking to change the conversation after two polls out today showed the Government's vote after preferences has returned to the level of the last election. The survey's were both taken during a week in which Tony Abbott's character was put under the media microscope, an issue his colleagues know only too well is hurting the Opposition Leader.

CHRISTOPHER PYNE: The Tony Abbott that I know is just this weekend, just last weekend, a person who went out with his local firies brigade to do a controlled burn-off.